Souljourn

What Naomi saw

When Naomi was in Phoenix she took a quick trip out to the Grand Canyon.  As they were driving there they noticed some cars pulled off the road and people gathered.  They stopped as well and this is what they saw.  

Quotes from our house

Naomi has been away in sunny Phoenix for the last eight days.  Here are a couple quotes heard around our house in her absence.

During a Skype conversation between Naomi and the kids:

Naomi - "How are you guys doing?"  

Response -  "We are barely surviving."

A compliment (I think) from one of our kids:

"Way to go house Dad!"

The truth comes out:

Me - "Do you want to go here for lunch?"  

Child - "Sure."  

While eating lunch -  "Mom says this place is a rip-off."

 

I think we are all very glad she'll be home Sunday night.

Dodged a bullet

My wife went out this evening with some girlfriends to watch a 'chick flick'.  When she texted me at work today to run this plan by me, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, 'go for it!'.  I know that she will enjoy her evening out, and I will enjoy my evening in, and we will both be happy.  I also know that there will come a time when I won't be able to avoid participating in viewing a 'chick flick' with my wife so I'm keeping these tips close by. (thank you Tyler Stanton)

A Beginner’s Guide to Chick Flicks:

1. Passive-aggressively scoff at wife’s initial chick flick suggestion. Don’t overdo it, but make it loud enough to demonstrate your boundless masculinity to other males within earshot.

2. Roll eyes during previews for good measure. Sighs are optional. Please use discretion.

3. After his first shirtless scene, whisper disturbing information about hot male protagonist you learned during your TMZ cram session prior to the movie.

4. Feel sudden twinge of emotion. Suppress it.

5. Insist to wife that lead actress is, in fact, “ugly” and that you cannot fathom why her face has been chosen for numerous magazine covers.

6. Not wanting to miss what she says when he says what he said he was going to say, forego urge to use the restroom despite drinking the equivalent of a 12-pack of Fanta Orange in the last half hour.

7. Feel another twinge of emotion, this time accompanied by mild eye-moistening. Rub temples with index finger of hand shield and cough to hide your true feelings from everyone who is certainly watching you instead of the movie.

8. Ride home in silence.

9. Once wife is asleep, succumb to your sudden impulse to journal about the paradox of love – its complexity, its simplicity, and your thankfulness that Hugh Grant taught you how seamlessly they intersect.

10. Deny having seen said movie when friends and co-workers talk about it. Quickly change the subject by spouting off obscure facts about Iron Man 2 you researched on IMDB for just such an occasion.

11. Repeat.

 

Point taken!

I don't want to be like the pool of Bethesda

From the account found in John 5, the pool of Bethesda most often lay still and dormant surrounded by people in great need.  It was occasionally (infrequently) stirred.  Sometimes troubled.  Mostly useless, and surrounded by unmet expectations.

It wasn't until the water was stirred, or troubled, that somebody would be helped.  As long as the water stayed calm, or unmoved, the needs of those around it went unanswered.

I don't want to live a life like that.  Infrequently, if ever, stirred.  Hidden away in comfortable complacency, untroubled by the needs of those around me.

I want to be stirred.  I want to be troubled.  I want to live as if Heaven and Hell hung in the balance.

But I have discovered that no matter how stirred I get, unless there is a continual stirring, or agitation, I can quickly settle back into complacency once again.  And I can't rely on some external person, or event, to stir me (the elusive angel at the pool).  This is a responsibility that is mine alone.  

It is my responsibility to determine the time I will spend with God allowing Him to speak to my heart.  It is my responsibility who I associate with and the voices I listen to (1 Corinthians 15:33).  It is my responsibility whether or not I  turn a blind eye or deaf ear to the needs and cries of those around me. 

As far as  I can tell from the story in John 5, one person had their needs met that day and countless others continued their vigil around a dormant body of water.  Waiting, hoping, and probably even praying that it would get stirred enough to meet them at their point of need and help them.  

I'm convinced there are people around you and I doing the exact same thing.

 

 

Monday mashup

Here are a few random items:

1. I'm looking forward to reading this book.  

2. I'm not in favour of easing the new drinking and driving laws because of some economic impact.  

3. I like what Andy Stanley has to say (and I think if I said some of it I'd cause quite the stir).

4. I just look at a salad and can gain weight and this guy, unbelievable!

5. Just in case you're planning to high five someone this week...

 

Thanks Dad & Mom!

A friend of mine, who had just come away from being with my parents, asked me, 'Have your parents always loved each other that much?'  Having that question posed to me made me feel great because it spoke to the obvious love my Dad & Mom have for each other.

My parents were married on October 28th 1967.  Tomorrow is their 43rd anniversary.  

I grew up never once having to wonder about their obvious, and growing love for each other. (and for me)

I grew up never once seeing, or hearing, my parents fight.

I grew up never once wondering if my parents would stay together.

I grew up watching my Mom honour and submit to my Dad.

I grew up watching my Dad love and protect my Mom.

For this I am incredibly blessed.

Thank you so much Dad & Mom for the strong and secure home foundation you provided me with.

Thank you so much Dad & Mom for living out before me an example of marriage that works.

Happy Anniversary.  I love you!

Day off

 Today Naomi and I went up to Paradise Meadows and walked in to Helen Mackenzie lake (6km roundtrip).  It was a great place to do some reading, journaling and work on memorizing Psalm 19.  We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful spot.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God, the skies display His craftmanship....they speak without a sound or word, their voice is never heard.  Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, their words to all the world.

 

UPDATE:

Tonight Hudson wanted to go down to the church and practice on the drums so here is where I spent some of the evening finishing off my book (Jesus Culture by Banning Liebscher).  Now I really do need to find another book to read.  I'm still open to your suggestions but I do have a couple of ideas.

 

The importance of rest

Naomi and I returned today from a week of rest in Northern California.  Thanks to our Foursquare denomination we had the opportunity to take part in the Genesee Home sabbatical week for pastors.  This meant we got to spend  five days on a 1600 acre ranch in the mountainous forest of Northern California in a beautifully refurbished Victorian farm home. There was no cell service, internet, or television, and it was....WONDERFUL!  We took some walks, read some books, spent time praying and talking, and just generally relaxed (oh yeah, we also chopped and stacked over a cord of firewood, but that was something we asked to do).

I was reminded again during this time about the importance of rest and simply spending time quietly being with God.  It was so refreshing to be able to spend unhurried amounts of time reading God's Word.  I don't do this well (resting, not reading) but it is something I must get better at.  By resting I don't mean "vegging".  That is something entirely different and even large amounts of time spent doing this does not refresh.  To rest is to intentionally participate in activities that refill our tank (so the chopping wood was actually resting!)  

It wasn't hard to rest during a prescribed week, but now that I'm back home with all my familiar routines it is going to require some effort.  That probably sounds a little conflicted, having to work at resting, but nonetheless it's true.  I have been a sabbath breaker for far too long and I need to get this right.  I'll keep you posted along the way, and let me add that I hope you take time to rest as well.  

Here were the two books I read this week.  If you are looking for a book to read I would highly recommend Mark Buchanans new book Spiritual Rhythm.

And now speaking of rest, I need to go to bed, it's 11:38 pm.

 

Isn't that a little early?

I walked in the door of our house on Sunday night to the sounds of Christmas music.  It was September 26th! The Ginger Bread and Cinnamon Dolce syrups have been brought out of the cupboard and I am half suspecting to be asked at any minute to go into the attic and bring down the 14 plus containers of Christmas decorations.  I wonder if this will be the year that we skip right over the fall scarecrow decoration and go directly to Frosty?

Are you aware of any decorating, or holiday music, rules that could possibly slow this process down a bit?

 I must admit however, I am looking forward to pickled herring and smoked oysters!